I decided that the heavy colour contrasts I had gone for would show well in a chevron pattern. Rather than winging it - my usual mode of operating - I consulted my crochet book. It offered up Ridged Chevron Stitch, Sharp Chevron Stitch, Close Chevron Stitch, Peephole Chevron Stitch and Crunchy Chevron Stitch. The last chevron stitch listed was obviously the one for me though - Simple Chevron Stitch!
I did 252 chain stitches. (The pattern goes in groups of ten, plus two at the end of your chosen amount.) It didn't seem too long. Ha! I did a few rows and it didn't seem too long. Funny how the weight of the yarn can change things. Lets just say that my throw is more than 60" wide now. But I'm not pulling it out because there is too much work in there now.
I got my head around the triple three together stitch, which makes for a nice tight stitch through the pattern. I wanted to avoid a pattern that had 'holes' in it for this project. It's a very easy pattern once you get going - hence the 'Simple' part in the pattern name. You do three triples, three triples in the same chain, three triples and then triple three together, and then just repeat this along the length. The only variation is there are five stitches on either end of each row. If you don't crochet then just stick your fingers in your ears and chant 'lalalalala' now. It's how I would react to knitting so I won't be offended.
Each ball of wool does almost four complete rows. Four rows measure up to just under two inches. I have 21 balls of wool. not quite 40" long then. When it's 60" wide.
The conclusion to this is I am going to have to buy a lot more wool!
Susan
I love the start of you rug. You know what they say - If you are going to make one - make a big one!
ReplyDeletegorgeous! I made a crochet ripple blanket a few years back. It took me a year and used about a million balls of yarn, but I love it so much! You can see it here (at my old blog) http://charlotte-narunsky.blogspot.co.uk/2008/03/end-of-era.html
ReplyDeleteLooks fabulous ... And great colours too ... Need more wool - sounds like a good excuse to go shopping!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! Or it could be the next Dr.Who scarf!!! Jxo
ReplyDeleteI love the contrast and groupings you have going on with the stripes there. A little more interest going on than just your standard chevron. Can't wait to see how this finishes up.
ReplyDeleteThat is going to be fantastic!
ReplyDeleteYou know that you could think of it as 60" long and that you are adding width. It is lovely. If you want matching yarn, buy it now before the dye lot is gone. But you can easily add more colours instead.
ReplyDeleteYou could always decide that it's a hammock afghan with vertical stripes that only has to be 30x60... ;-)
ReplyDeleteIf you do buy more yarn, while Leanne is right about matching dye lots, there are enough breaks in the colour that you can use up remnants in the small stripes and then use just one dye lot per larger stripe and no one will be able to tell/even notice.
Also: It's gorgeous, by the way...
ReplyDeleteI hear noises like you are a grown up in a Peanuts cartoon, but it looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Go big or go home...
ReplyDeleteWell, it sure looks like a daunting project to me but I gave to say your crochet is lovely.
ReplyDeletelovely deary, buy more yarn!!
ReplyDeleteLooks great -- lots of wool though. I'm thinking I need a knitting/crochet project for when I go on vacation myself. I have a baby blanket I started three years ago .. maybe I should restart that.
ReplyDeleteI love your colour choices and your crochet so neat! My crochet always needs blocking to look that smooth and even.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks fab, so you make it by asking someone who can crochet then? ;o)
ReplyDeleteI looks brilliant Susan ! Wondering what crunchy chevrons are like - but buy more wool quick! I think you will want to carry on!
ReplyDeleteYour crochet is as perfect as your quilting. Is there anything you cant do?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a long term project. But it's also very pretty
ReplyDeleteAt least with black yarn if you end up having to buy from different dye lots it wont show up! Usually black is black and it doesn't matter too much of they are from different dye lots :)
ReplyDeleteIt look fab tho!
ReplyDelete